Pipe pushing device



Oct. 20, 1953 A. L. F LADUNG PIPE PUSHING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1952 Patented ct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT' OFFICE 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a device for pushing or forcing water-service and gas service pipes through the ground from a service main to a customers premises without the necessity for trenching or tunneling, and without requiring water for washing the hole for the pipe.

The principal object is to provide a simple, easily portable and highly eficient device which can be positioned in a relatively small excavation and which will act to rapidly force a pipe of `any desired length through the earth from the excavation.

Another object of the invention is t0 provide a device of this character which will not require the use of wash water through 4the pipe being pushed. I

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and eiciency.

' These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which for-ms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

VIn the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of the improved pipe pushing device` in place in a typical pipe trench;

Fig. 2 is a top view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a similar cross-section, taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 1.

The improved pipe pushing device is designed to be placed in a trench or similar excavation so that it can react against the rear wall of the excavation, such as indicated at II), to force a pipe, indicated at II, through the opposite or front wall, indicated at I2.

The device comprises an elongated, rectangular frame, preferably formed from four parallel, corner angle irons I3 supported in uniform, spaced relation with their 90 inclined angle faces faced inwardly by means of suitable brace plates I4. A hydraulic cylinder I5 is mounted in the enclosure of the angle irons I3 at the rear extremity of the latter upon a cross bolt I6 extending between the rear plates I4. Y

Fluid under pressure is conducted to the cylinder I5 through `a suitable feed hose Il and feed valve I8. Fluid may be discharged from the cylinder I5 through the medium of a discharge nipple I9 and a discharge valve 20.

ill

The pressure cylinder actuates a plunger 2I, as is usual with hydraulic cylinders. The plunger is connected through the medium of a suitable wrist pin 22 with a horizontally positioned, U- shaped carriage frame 23. The carriage frame 23 is supported on wheel shafts 24, upon each of which a pair of the rollers 25 is mounted. The rollers travel on the lower horizontal iianges of the lower angle irons I3.

An inverted, U-shaped carriage member 26 is welded or otherwise secured to the U-s'haped frame `2? and extends upwardly at each side of the angle iron frame and across the top thereof in spaced relation thereto.

Pipe-clamping means are mounted on the carriage member 26. The clamping means maybe of any desired design. As illustrated, they come prise two clamps, each consisting of a lower jaw member 21 and an upper jawmember 28 which can be clamped toward each other and into gripping engagement with the pipe II by means of hand-actuated clamp screws 29.

The angle iron frame may be supported in any desired manner from the floor ofthe pipe trench. As illustrated, it is supported upon vertical standards 30 arising from foot members 3I and extending through guide sleeves 32 welded or otherwise secured to the angle iron frame. The guide sleeves may be locked at any desired elevation on the standards 30 by means of suitable set screws 33.

In use, a length of pipe II is placed in the loosened clamps and the carriage is forced to its fullest rearward position. The clamps are then tightened to grip the pipe, and fluid under pressure is admitted to the pressure cylinder I5 from the pressure conduit Il. This causes the plunger to force the carriage and the pipe II forwardly into the earth.

When the extremity of the travel of the plunger 2! is reached, the clamps are loosened and the carriage is manually forced rearwardly, the pressure uid being drained through the drain nipple i 9. The clamps are again tightened, the drain nipple I9 is closed, the pressure valve I8 is opened to again force the plunger forward for its full length of travel, causing the pipe to travel forwardly into the earth the length of the plunger stroke.

This operation is repeated until the entire pipe length has been inserted, after which a second length of pipe can be connected to the rst and the operation continued until the project is completed.

It will be noted that the straight, parallel 3 angle irons I3 of the angle iron frame accurately guide the carriage in a straight line, so that all kinking and bending of the pipe is avoided.

It will also be noted that, by adjustment of the sleeves 32 on the standards 30, the pipe may be forced at any desired vertical angle.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without de parting froin the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pipe pushing device comprising: four longitudinally extending angle irons; means for rigidly holding said angle irons parallel; r= tangular relation; a hydraulic cylinder Kiixedly positioned within the enclosure of said angle irons; means locking said cylinder to said angle` irons at the rearward extremity of the latter; a U.shaped carriage frame; parallel shafts ex tending transversally across said carriage frame; rollers mounted on said shafts and arranged to travel on the horizontal legs of the lower angle iron with-in the enclosure of the upper angle iron; a hydraulic plunger extending from said hydraulic cylinder; a wrist pin connecting said plunger to said Ueshaped frame; an inverted, U-shaped carriage member extending across the top of said angle ironV frames, thence downwardly at each siderthereof to a rigid connection with said L11-shaped frame so as to mo've with the latter along said angle iron frame; and means for clamping a length of pipe to said inverted., Ui-shapd carriage member.

2. A pipe pushing devic comprising: four parallel angle irons; ineans secured to said angle irons and acting to rigidity .maintain there spaced apart so as to forni th corners of a horizontal, elongated, rectangular enclosure having side openings formed by the vertical spacing of said irons; a hydraulic cylinder secured within the rear extremity of said enclosure parallel to and surrounded by said angle irons; a pair of rollers positioned to roll along the lower flange of each lower angle iron of said enclosure; roller shafts extending between said pairs of rollers and projecting outwardly at both sides of said enclosure through the side openings therein; a horizontally positionedgwU-shaped traine positioned between the' vertically spaced angle irons of said enclosure and extending forwardly on the outside of each vpair of rollers, said U-shaped frame being mounted upon said roller shafts; a hydraulic plunger extending forwardly from said hydraulic cylinder; connecting means securing the forward extremity of saidsplunger to said U-shaped frame;

and extending downwardly at each side thereof to a fixed connection with the opposite sides of said' ALJ-sliaped frame; pipe-clamping means mounted on said carriagemember over said en closure; and -supporting legs lmounted on said enclosure and supporting the latter in a substantially horizontal position,

References ted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,357,519 Peduu'a Nov. s, i920 misses slaan sept. so, i930 1,962,228 Abi'mgm et a1. Jilli 12 1934 2,588,068 Williams et a1. Mar. '4, '1952 

